The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-13

A PORTRAIT.
a SHORT STORY.
BY HARRIET PRESCOTT sPOFFORD.
Ar-raoz OF sSrR RoHAN's GHOST" "a LOST IpEN.
TITY," "a DYING NERVE" AND
OTHRR STORIES.

OTHRB STORIES.
1t is theory oil mine that one cannot paint O
good portrait from mere sittings of the subject
before one. The nature, as well as the features
of the model, must require study. One should
know something Of the soul as well as of the SUI
perfces. And so, as was to paint the portrait
of Mrs. Adriance, woman of rare charm, felt
the necessity of some careful observation. Her
guest for the purpose, had, of course the better
opportunity of making it, and the hospitality
being matter, of course, in theway of business,
hardly invested it with the sacred character of
guest, or invested her with any of the shielding
only that should ordinarily surround ones
host
Mrs. Adriance was a woman OF luxurious
beauty and Of toilette that was its fit setting.
If say that her husband was her slave have no
wordleft to describe the condition of her servants
but IN her house, which was superb, she reigned
an unlimited despot and her word, her wish, was
law. She had many whims, each of which she
followed till she worked it out and there was no
shred Of it left; now it charity, now it was
religion now it was fashion, now it was litera-
fure, now IL was art Whatever whim she
pursued it borrowed for the time some of the
beauty Of the beautiful creature who pursued it,
and seemed as admirable as she was, as all she
did was-st least in the eyes Of Mr.. Adriance.
yn my own eyes-well. beginning as her abject
servant, had spent but few days under her
roof when found myself thinking that If I
painted AIRS. Adriance as saw her, the picture
would be unpleasant enough to exceed the do
xaain OF art.
Nothing opens the eyes sometimes like good
-pFejudics. If had not become aware of Mrs.
Adriance's opposition to the marriage of her
- ~~:a So o4y ia
Che girl was agreeable to herself, a pleasant
piece Of furniture in the house, and she did not
choose to make break In the way of life which
she enjoyed might not have seen her so clear
~ myself No one played Chopin as this sensi-
tive Irene did, no one else read verses with the
same delicate infections and musical voice, no
ens sympathized with her in all her freaks and
eaprices as this young girl did, no one had such
taste to criticise and suggest concerning rib
bon or rufde, and let Hene's fingers twinkle
for . moment in the lace or among the puffs
and bows and no French mi1liner could have
done better. 1t was plainly impossible for Mrs.
.Adrianee to spare Irene. Who would see the
point OF the last social gossip2 With whom
should she exchange the swift glancea With
whom should she talk over her friends and en-
enniesf Life would be coming to an end soon
enough. anyway; let things be as they were till
Sickness, and age and death touch them with
necessary Transforming hands; why go out of
the way and bring about unpleasant changes.
No; let Irene stay where she well off and
made others so. And why did Irene wish to
marry, anyways she would continue. It would
only be temporary delight and after that
WEAKNESS. Doubtless very much in love now
lin year the enchantment would be gone and
the bridal satin would be only sack-cloth and
shoc NJ for Two nae coIyo
for that of anyone else that Mrs Adriance OPP
posed the whole affair.
And then the man was poor. Itwas true that
was trouble which Mrs. Adriance could RENE
dy If she would. out of her abundant wealth;
but if Irene chose to throw herself away. not
dollar not cent. would Mrs Adriance contrib
ute towards her doing so; she. at any rate,
should not make herself responsible for helping
the sacrifice. Besides-see how selfish it
was in Irene! How singularly selfish to wish to
leave this home where she was so acceptable, so
agreeable, actually so necessary, where aunt
valued her as few women did their husbands
relatives, where her uncle found her of such
use, where she filed all the chinks and corners
where nothing could replace her or make up for
her loss, how very selfish of her to wish to go
OF with young who must needs absorb
her entirely to himself! She couldn't really be-
heve such selfshness was possible to Irene. and
therefore she couldn't really believe that Irene
positively wished to marry the young man. And
Il she didn't wish it, what was the of talking
anymore about it7 1t was not a matter of gen.
uine love- but mere phase of sentimentality.
And how did that old pink accord with the tar
nished gold. and what did you say to this cloth
for riding habit-scarlet velvet full of silver
gray shadowsf One has to be so careful in the
ehoica rf I'M aft has cd Or,a,c fpct
youth; and scarlet is certainly vugarizing unless
ones skin is as transparent as moonlight And
hers wasi Yes. there perhaps nothing out
e the way in confessing it; fact in nature that
was patent to any observer was hardly matter
of personal vanity; and she was willing to admit
she had found pleasure in her coloring; as the
find in looking at a Corregglo-Irene had often
told her she looked like painting on ivory; and
1t was certainly very unusual at forty. An even
temper had great deal to do with such preser-
vation by keeping up regular circulation-a
refusal to be rufhed by trihes, habit of putting
aside the unpleasant, such, for instance this
disagreeable affair OF Irenes marriage. She
just gave her decided dissent, and there an end
And. by the way. Irene being the tapis. how
was this for tea-g gown for Irene. pale mouse
nuns yelling. draping quite as well as China
Grape. and so very much less expensive-imita-
ton duchesse and ribbons for decorations Mrs.
Adriance liked to have everything about herself
lovely and delicate as might be; of course, as
Irene had nothing of her own, she must be con-
tent with pretty effects rather than costly ma
tcriaI. Fortunately youth had its own beauty
and did not need to be set off with jewels. and
brocades and pushes; and that was WELL for
even If Irene married herself, the wardrobe of a
woman of fashion would be unsuitable for her;
and as her jewels all of quaint design. and
many of antique workmanship. she had made
arrangements for adding them eventually to the
art-collectlon of the Pinacotheca the Adriance
jewels. so it would be pity to aecustom Irene |
to what she would never have. She had prin-
cple in this. And. for the rest, how could Irene
expect to be happy with aman of such nature as
Gervais'sl She had really put it to Irene. What |
manner of man was it who was willing to take |
her from her home of luxury, surrounded by |
the beauty of palace, waited by ivered |
servants, fed on all but nectar and ambrosia. |
to live in narrow lodgings. to wait herself |
apd him, too, to dine the joint warmed over. |
if there was even a joint at all. He must be |